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USA Men’s Basketball Team Puerto Rico: How to Watch, Predictions and More

Team USA, which went 5-0 in the warm-up phase of its pre-Olympic preparations, has looked much more dominant in the group stage so far.

The Americans struggled to contain fast, volatile teams like Team Germany and Team South Sudan in two exhibition games at the O2 Arena in London before the Paris games. With the arrival of Phoenix Suns All-Star forward Kevin Durant, a versatile scorer, the program has crushed its opponents in its first two games. Team USA is now 2-0 in group play and has advanced to the eight-team quarterfinals.

Read more: MVP Sits, Bam Adebayo Leads USA Basketball to Big Victory Over South Sudan

Although Team USA has already booked their ticket to the next round, they have one more match left in their group stage: Saturday morning, they will face Team Puerto (0-2), led by defensive-minded New Orleans Pelicans backup point guard Jose Alvarado.

Stephen Curry Kevin Durant Joel Embiid LeBron
Kevin Durant (center) of the United States shakes hands with Stephen Curry (left) of the United States during the group stage match between Serbia and the United States at the Stade Pierre Mauroy on the second day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games…


Markus Gilliar/GES Sportfoto/Getty Images

Fans can watch Saturday’s game on NBC and sister streaming site Peacock at 8:15 a.m. PT/11:15 a.m. ET.

Puerto Rico lost to South Sudan 90-79 on Sunday and Serbia 107-66 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Team USA demolished both teams in their respective Group C matches. The Americans beat Serbia — led by Denver Nuggets MVP center Nikola Jokic — 110-84 on Sunday and beat South Sudan 103-86 on Wednesday.

Team USA has one of its deepest rosters since its 1992 “Dream Team” lineup. Coached by four-time Golden State Warriors champion Steve Kerr, Team USA features Kerr’s Warriors All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, All-NBA Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and center Anthony Davis, All-Star Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and shooting guard Devin Booker, All-Star Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, All-NBA Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards, All-Star Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid.

Team USA, coming from the defending champion Boston Celtics, consists of All-NBA combo forward Jayson Tatum and All-Defensive guards Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.

“Our identity is defense, and that starts with pressure,” Kerr said of his team’s approach to this year’s competition, per Shaun Powell of NBA.com. “You can see the impact Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have had,” Kerr said. “They’re used to being complementary players to the stars. It doesn’t make sense to put our five leading scorers on the court in the NBA season because those guys don’t complement each other well.”

In addition to Holiday and White on the perimeter, Team USA’s defense is led by Davis and Adebayo in the frontcourt, with hyperathletic players like Edwards and James also pulling their weight on that side of the hardwood.

When it comes to pulling off a victory, the question seems to be more about the margin of victory than the specter of defeat. Team USA is listed as a 33.5-point favorite by sportsbook consensus to upset Team Puerto Rico this weekend, according to Tony Mejia of The Sporting News.

More news: Steve Kerr Explains Decision to Bench Jayson Tatum at Team USA Open